In a significant move to uphold research integrity, the Supreme People’s Court of China has announced strict measures to curb academic misconduct and safeguard scientific innovation. On January 6, the Court held a press conference to introduce the Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on Providing High-Quality Judicial Services to Safeguard Scientific and Technological Innovation (hereinafter referred to as the “Opinions”).
The newly released Opinions underscore the critical need for research integrity and highlight severe legal consequences for violations such as fabricating or falsifying research findings, buying, selling, ghostwriting, or proxy-submitting research manuscripts and project application materials. The guidelines further address buying, selling, falsifying, or tampering with experimental data, emphasizing a comprehensive crackdown on all forms of academic dishonesty.
A particularly notable aspect of the Opinions is the focus on intermediaries facilitating unethical research practices. The Supreme People’s Court has called for severe penalties against entities involved in the buying and selling of research data and papers, as well as the fabrication or invention of patents classified as abnormal patent applications.
This landmark decision reflects China’s firm stance on maintaining academic integrity and promoting genuine scientific progress. By targeting both individuals and intermediaries engaged in academic misconduct, the Chinese government demonstrates its commitment to fostering a transparent and trustworthy research environment.
For further details, you can access the official press release [here].